Kit and the like



Jan. 6, 1942. G; w. MULLEN vKIT AND THE LIKE Filed July 2s, 1958 IIIIIII IN VENTOR.

VV) ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 6, 1942. G. w. MULLEN KIT AND THE LIKE Filed July 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.'

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEV 2,269,343 j 1 KIT' ANDTHE L'IKE f y George W. Mullen, Flushing,-N. Y.` Application July 23, 1938', JrSerialN'o.220,95()

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in shoe shining kits ofa type adapted to contain shoe shining equipment in a compact and attractive manner.

The shoe shining kits illustrated herein oomprise a box or casing, a container of shoe polish, a brush for applying the polish, a polishing cloth, and a polishing element secured to the bottom of the box. The brush and container are securely mounted in the boX and do not move about or soil the kit While it is being vcarried or used. The holding means for the several elements are simple, inexpensive and may be readily manufactured.

The present invention aims to provide a compact, simple, inexpensive shoe shining kit having improved features of construction.

A11 object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive shoe shining kit which iscompact and strong, but relatively light in weight.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for mounting al brush, a container and other rsuitable devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting frame having portions for receiving and holding the handle of a brush.

Another object of the invention is to" provide a mounting frame secured'to the bottom of a box adapted to reinforce and strengthen the'box. i'

Another object of the invention is to rattach a mounting frame to the bottom of the box by means of a clamping member 'secured to the box.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a compact 'case for carrying the kit.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or

vwill be indicated in the appended claims-rand various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment` of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of theinvention -has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the vaccompanying r drawings, forming 'a part of the specification,

Fig. 5 vis a Sectional View illustrating'Y the kit placed in a'suitable case.

Referringmorev particularly tothe drawings, there is shown a shoe shining Ykit comprisinga lid or upper box member I, preferablyhinged at 2 to a lower box member 4. The lower box member preferably has a strip 5 of fleece, felt or sheep skin attached to the bottom thereof at the exterior, which is adapted to be used for polishing shoes, boots or the like. The strip 5 provides a suitable buftng` element which can be used by grasping the closed box as a handle. The box preferably contains a polish applying brush 6, a package 1 containing shoe polish or the like, and a polishing clothA 9. These articles arearranged in a compact manner and are held against movement in the box as about to bedescribed.

Thebiush 6 and-shoe polish 4-package Tprefer'- ably are-mounted in the lower box member vIl,

' y member (Fig. 2).

'against movement.

In order to hold the shoeA polish applying brush'B inv place, the framefIZ has a substantial- `ly rectangularrecess I4 at one end thereof' for reeeivingthe bristles I5 of `the. brush. By placing the Ybristles in the recess they are kept out of contact'with other portions'of'the kit and prevent accidental movement of the -brushl The mounting frame' has a front wallf-I 6' substantially parallel' to the front wall I1 of the lower box member land'spaced a suitabledistance therefrom tov provide a channel I8 Vfor'rec'eiving the handle I9 of the brush. The front wallfof the frame and the inner portion 'of the front wall lII of the box member 4,'are adaptedA toH cooperate to frictionallyy engage the brush handle I9V and hold it To facilitate seating the brush and to reduce the heightpi `the kit, the bottom of the lowerbox mayhavea recessorindentation 20' therein l(Figs. 3) l conforming substantially to theshape of `th'eportion f2I of the brush handle adjacent the bristles. To further reduce the height of the brush handle adjacent the bristles, the handle may have attened or cut-away portions 22 at the top and bottom thereof.

The container or package 1, as illustrated herein, may comprise a collapsible tube 24 adapted to contain shoe polish in the form of cream, and a cap 25 threaded to the neck thereof. The container is mounted in the kit by seating the tube 24 in a suitable lengthwise extending cut-out portion or recess 26 formed in the mounting frame, which conforms substantially to the shape of the package to prevent sidewise movement thereof. Preferably, the recess 2B is relatively close to the recess I4 for the bristle of the brush and to the front and back walls of the frame to assemble the brush and package in a compact manner.

In addition, the container may be held against movement in the box by a substantially U- shaped resilient clip 21 secured to the bottom of the lower box by a screw, eyelet or rivet 28 extending through the base 29 of the clip (Fig. 3). The clip is adapted to clamp the cap in position. Entry and removal of the cap may be facilitated by providing the upper portions of the clip with outwardly diverging portions 30.

Another feature of the invention is that the mounting frame may be held against upward or sidewise movement with respect to the bottom of the box by means of the clip 21. This may be accomplished by making the end 3| of the recess, adapted to accommodate the cap 25, narrower than the upright spring arms 32 of the clip, whereby the arms resiliently engage portions of the frame at the recess.

The polishing cloth 9 (Fig. l) preferably is held against the undersideof the cover part I of the upper box member I by a suitable clip II secured to the end of the box member 2 opposite the end of the box at which the bristles I of the brush are located. The cloth may be folded and inserted between the clip and the cover part to prevent it from engaging the bristle of the brush. To accomplish this, the cloth, when folded, does not extend to the end of the box where the bristles are located to provide a space 33 between the end wall of the box member 2 and the cloth. When the box is closed, the bristles are adapted to flt into the space 33 whereby a compact arrangement is provided.

In Fig. 4 a modified frame member I2 is illustrated, which may be stamped and pressed or otherwise formed from sheet metal or the like. The frame member I2 is similar in design to the frame I2 and has a recess I4 for the bristles of the brush and a recess 26' for the container. To increase the eiective height or thickness of the metal frame without material increase in cost` the .side edges thereof are provided with suitable downwardly depending flanges 34 adapted to space the frame a suitable distance from the bottom of the box. A feature of making the frame of metal is that a clip comprising resilient arms 35 adapted to grip the cap on the tube, can be formed integral with the plate. This decreases the cost of the kit and simplifies the assembly thereof. The frame may be frictionally secured tothe box or, for example, by a rivet or eyelet 36 extending through a tab, lug or ear 31 on one of the anges 34.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a case or box made of suitable material for enclosing the kit to prevent the polishing strip 5 from soiling other articles When the kit is placed in a Satchel or other baggage. The case comprises an upper box part 40, hinged at 4I to a lower box part 42 and a tab or gripping iiap 44 on the upper box part having a snap button 45 adapted to engage a snap projection 45 on the lower box part to lock the case.

A feature of the case is that it is compact and occupies a minimum amount of space. A further feature is a bendable front wall 41 on the upper box part, whereby in the normal opening of the box by pulling the flap 44 in the direction of the arrow A, the front Wall will flex outwardly from its normal position, which is shown in dot dash lines. Thus, the lower portion of the front wall 41 will clear the upper front edge 49 of the kit. This permits a smaller casing giving greater compactness and, more important, permits close nesting of the parts and prevents the parts from jostling around.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved shoe shining kit. The polish brush. shoe polish tube and cloth are packed in the kit in a simple, inexpensive, compact and convenient manner and cannot move about when the kit is carried. The kit is constructed of a minimum number of parts which are readily assembled and yet contains all the necessary means for polishing shoes. The kit is packed in a case which occupies a minimum amount of space and can be easily opened and closed While removing or replacing the kit. The kit and the case are rugged in construction and can readily withstand any rough usage to which they may be subjected..

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood thatrall matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limlting sense as the scope of the invention is defined in the claims.

Having `thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe shining kit comprising a box, a mounting frame seated in the bottom of said box and having a slot for receiving a package adapted to contain shoe polish, and a clamping member secured to the bottom of said box having a pair of diverging clamping fingers for gripping a portion of said package, said fingers extending upwardly through said slot and engaging portions of said frame adjacent said slot to hold said frame in the bottom of said box.

2. A shoe shining kit comprising upper and lower box members, a frame member seated at the bottom of said lower box member having a longitudinal slot for receiving a shoe polish container, a clamping member secured to the bottom of said lower box member having diverging fingers extending upwardly through said kslot and engaging portions of said frame adjacent said slot `to assist in holding the frame in said lower box member, said fingers being adapted to grip a portion of the container. and said frame having a recess for receiving the bristles of a brush and a side portion cooperating with an adjacent side wall of the lower box member to provide a channel for the handle of the brush and adapted to frictionally retain the handle of a brush in position in said channel.

GEORGE W. MULLEN. 

